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Abstract

An optically anisotropic microlens array film directly formed on a single substrate is demonstrated. UV curable diacrylate monomers are coated as a film on the substrate. Under the action of fringing field, not only the film surface is flattened by the generated dielectric force but also the monomers are reoriented to form a gradient refractive index (GRIN) distribution in the film. Via UV exposure, the GRIN distribution is fixed and the polymeric film behaves as a microlens array. The fabrication process is simple and the film offers a switchable focus through controlling the polarization direction of the incident light. Integrating with a 90° twisted-nematic liquid crystal cell, our polymeric microlens array film shows great potential for switchable 2D/3D autostereoscopic displays.

Figures (8)

(a) A glass substrate with interdigitated ITO electrodes. The coated PI on the ITO surface is
rubbed in the direction perpendicular to the electrode stripes, and the calculated electric field
distribution (b) Ex and (c) Ez. The height
along z-axis and the ITO width are not drawn to scale.

(a) Dripping an LC droplet on a substrate surface, (b) spreading the droplet to form a thin film
with a blade, and (c) applying a voltage to the electrode, and (d) calculated LC reorientation
inside the film. The film thickness and the ITO width are not drawn to scale.

Stripe patterns of the film (IPS-5/5 substrate) observed using a POM. The film is sandwiched
between crossed polarizer and analyzer. The rubbing direction of the substrate is orientated at (a)
45° and (b) 0° to the optic axis of the polarizer.

2D image of the solidified film (IPS-5/5 substrate) when focused on: (a) film surface and (b)
focal plane. The analyzer is removed and the rubbing direction of the substrate is along the optic
axis of the polarizer.

Switchable focus using a polymeric microlens combined with a TNLC cell: (a) experimental setup,
(b) no focusing in the voltage-off state, (c) CCD image and intensity profiles of the non-focusing
state, (d) focusing in the voltage-on state, and (e) CCD image and intensity profiles of the
focusing state.